Making it legal
The week's news at a glance.
London
Britain’s legalization of civil partnerships for gay couples went into force this week, and hundreds of people lined up to get hitched. The partnerships offer gays most of the same benefits that married, heterosexual couples enjoy, including rights to a spouse’s pension and tax breaks on inherited real estate. Among the first couples to register were Sir Elton John and his longtime partner, filmmaker David Furnish. The two will conduct their partnership ceremony in the same venue where Prince Charles and Camilla got married.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Democrats: How to rebuild a damaged brand
Feature Trump's approval rating is sinking, but so is the Democratic brand
-
Unraveling autism
Feature RFK Jr. has vowed to find the root cause of the 'autism epidemic' in months. Scientists have doubts.
-
'Two dolls': Can Trump sell Americans on austerity?
Feature Trump's tariffs may be threatening holiday shelves but they've handed Democrats a 'huge gift'